108 WINDOWS 1996

Han-Sun Temple, in Eastern China, was famed for the far-reaching sound of its ancient bells. The bells were traditionally rung 108 times on special occasions, including New Year’s Eve. Each toll of the bell reverberates through one of the 108 windows in the Buddhist underworld as a means of expressing its blessing to the entire 108 entities in the circle of reincarnation.

Chinese Buddhism believe that there are six basic levels of entities in reincarnation: Fairies, Humans, Guardians, Demons, Hell Prisoners and Animals. Through these cycles of transformations, man has inherited certain traits from his inhuman counterparts and molded them into his nature.

Inside my Temple, there are portraits of 108 beings. The Temple with 108 Windows reminds us of our past and asks where are we going.